Catalytic igniter for explosive-motors.



l PATENTED DEO. 15, 1903.

T4 B. JEFFREY. GATALYTIG IGNITER, PUR :EXPLGSIVE MOTORS.

UNTTnn STaTns Patented December 15, 1903.

PATTJNT Crricn.

THC-MAS B. JEFFERY, OF KENOSI-IA, WISCONSIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 747,182, dated December 15, 1903.

Application tiled March l1, 1901. Serial No. 50.6126.` (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS B. JEFFERY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kenosha, county of Kenosha, State of Wisconsin., have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Catalytic Igniters for Explosive-Motors, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a novel means of causing ignition of the explosive gaseous mixture in an explosive-engine.

It consists in the employment of a catalytic agent located in the explosion-chamber ofthe motor adapted to cause chemical combination of the intermixed gases to occur when such intermixed gases come into the presence of such agent and an arrangement of passages by which the gases are forced into the presence of such agent and into the explosionchamber, whereby the gases are ignited and the agent rendered incandescent, causing explosion of the motive-power gases in said chamber. The invention, however', is not limited to a structure in which the gaseous mixture whose explosive combination genen ates the power is the same as that exposed to the action of the catalytic agent to be brought into combination by that agent and thereby to render the agent incandescent, nor is it limited strict-ly to the use of means for compressing the gases or introducing them under compression into the presence ofthe catalytic agent; but the most economicaland practical form of the invention I considerto be one in which the same gaseous mixture whose explosion is to generate the motive power is used for the purpose of being exposed to the action of the catalytic agent, and specifically in which such gases are taken from the pis` ton-chamberof the motorafter being partially compressed in that chamber and are further compressed by additional means for the purpose of being again discharged back into the explosionchamber and into contact with the catalytic agent.

The invention consists, further, in specific features lof construction which are set out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is an axial section through the cylinderof an explosive-motor embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail section at the line 2 2 on Fig. 1.

A is a cylinder of a gas-engine; A', the compression and explosion chamber at the end of the cylinder. B is the piston operating in the said cylinder or piston-chamber.

C is the main crank-shaft of the engine; C', the crank-arm. thereon; C2, the pitman-link connecting the crank with the piston.

D is a pump-cylinder collateral to and parallel with the motor-piston chamber or cylinder A.

E is a pump piston or plunger operating in the pump-cylinder D.

The pu mp-cylinderD is made integral with the cylinder A. Through the head of the cylinder A a bore is made transversely across the cylinder D, leading into the compression and explosion chamber A', and in this bore is inserted a plug G, provided at its outer end with a head G', by which it may be rotated, and immediately forward of the head with a threaded boss G10, by which it is screwed into the outer end of the bore in which it is inserted, as seen in Fig. 1. This lug is axially apertured to receive a tubular shell H,which is designed to protrude beyond the inner end of the plug slightly into the compression and explosion chamber A,while at the opposite end it forms a stop for a check-valve in the form of a ball J, which is retained at the opposite side by a tubular stop J', which is screwed. into the outer end of the plug G. The inner end of the stop J is formed as a seat for the valve G.. A port d leads from the end of the pump-cylinder D through the plug G and shell H into the cavity of the shell, the communication thus opened outward from the pump cylinder through the axial cavity of the stop J being cut olf by the check-valve J. The shell H may be termed a cartridge, its inner end being closed by fine-meshed platinum wiregauze K, through which any gas or air forced from thepump-cyliuder into the explosionchamberA must pass to be discharged within said explosion chamber. The platinum gauze from the wellknown catalytic property of finely-subdivided platinum tends to cause combination of the inter-mixed gases forced into its presence, and such action in turn heats the platinum and increases its tendency tocause such combination until finally it becomes incandescent and causes the gases to unite with an explosive ash or ame, which itself, independently of the incandescence of the platinum, explodes the motor-power gases in the explosion-chamber. In addition to the platinum gauze the cartridge-shell H may contain spongy platinum or black platinum, Whose catalytic vproperty is more marked in some respects than the bright platinum gauze. c may represent the position of such spongy 'platinum or black platinum in the shell H; but I do not limit myself to using both the gauze and the spongy or black platinum, nor to using either in preference to the other.A Since the gas to excite the catalytic agent is to be driven through it for that purpose, the catalytic agent is desirably located as shown, obstructing a passage through which a current of gas is driven. Since itis also desirable that said catalytic element should be directly exposed to the heat of the motor-gases in the explosion-chamber, it is extended, as shown, from the end of the shell, and the shell itself, as above stated, is protruded into the chamber to facilitate this purpose, so that a portion of the catalytic element is in the passage formed by the shell at a portion of such shell which is within the explosion-chamber, and a further portion of the catalytic element is formed, so that it constitutes to an extent a continuation of the passage, but is beyond any guarding-wall thereof and stands out Within the explosionchamber. Thus the same catalytic element performs two functions in conjunction with the means for directing the excitant-current through it-to wit, first, of becoming excited by the movement of such current; second, exposing itself in this excited condition to the gases which are to be ignited byit and being exposed to the heat of such explosion supplementing the heat developed by the movement of the excitant-gases through it. For conveniencein thus preliminarily heating the platinum I make the cartridge H as shown, so that it may be readily withdrawn toheat the platinum by outside means,as`inalamp iiame or otherwise, whereupon it may be immediately reinserted andv secured. To revive the temperature of the platinum after vthe engine has been at rest for a short time,

a gaseous mixture adapted to excite and be acted upon by the platinum may be pumped into the cartridge by any suitable appliance attached to the outer end of the tubular stop J. I have shown for that purpose a rubber bulb M with proper connections, which may be understood as leading from any source of suitable gas mixture. A duct a is formed leading from the cylinder A at a distance back from the explosion-chamber A' into the pump-cylinder B for the purpose of admitting the gaseous mixture from the cylinderAinto the pump-cylinder for the purpose of being forced therefrom through the cartridge K to excite the catalytic agent, as explained.

C10 is a gear-wheel on the shaft C. C20 is a gear-Wheel of double the size of the wheel C10, meshing with and driven by the latter, the shaft c2 of the gear C20 being in line entire periphery7 of the cam forming a track for an abutment in the form of a stud "and roll E10 on the arm E of the pump piston or plunger E. Said arm obtains guidance in the lug A30, which projects from the side of the frame-plate A3 of the engine, and it has below the abutment E10 a stop-shoulder E, between which and the lug A50 a spring L is coiled about said arm E', tending to resist the with drawing movement of the plunger E from the cylinder-D and to thrust the plunger back into the cylinder forcibly. The shaft c2 revolves in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 1, causing the cam C3, operating against the abutment E, to forcibly withdraw the plunger E in the cylinder D until said abutment reaches the point e30 at which it runs olf the eccentric periphery of the cam and follows down the straight edge C30 directly toward the shaft under the force of the spring L. The cam is so situated on its shaft with respect to the position of the crank C' on the shaft C as to cause the inthrust of the plunger E under the force of the spring L to occuil in each alternate revolution of the crankshaft at the point at which the piston E has nearly completed its inward compressing movement. It will be noticed, therefore, that a little before this inthrust of the plunger occurs the piston E will have been at a position at which the duct ot' has been uncovered, opening free communication between the enginecylinder and the pump-cylinder, while both pistons are withdrawn back from the point of communication, thus admitting from the motor-cylinder into the pump-cylinder the gas which has been compressed to such extent as the movement of the piston D up to the opening of the duct a may have caused. The quick inthrustof theplungerEinto the pumpcylinder under the action of the spring L will cause the partly-compressed gases which are in the pump-cylinder to be still further compressed, so that they will be discharged through the port d into the cavity of the shell H and through the finely-subdivided or black platinum therein into the explosion-chamber A. This forcible introduction of the compressed gases into the presence of the spongy or finely-subdivided platinum will cause the chemical union of the mixed gases, producing explosion and ame at that point and heating the platinum to incandescence, so that both by the incandescent platinum and by the jet of flame which will emerge from the end of the cartridge-'shell H into the ex- IOO IIO

plosion-chamber the gases in that chamber, now fully compressed by the compressing stroke of the piston B, will be ignited and the explosion produced which will thrust back the piston. The precise point in the compressing stroke of the engine-piston at which the explosion is caused to occur may be varied as conditions require by angularly adjusting the cam C3 on the shaft c2. This may be done by the tangent-screw c4, mounted on the cam and engaging the segment-rack 05,011 the shaft.

I claiml. In an explosive-motor, a catalytic agent located in the explosion-chamber and exposed vto the motive-power gases to be exploded therein; a source of gaseous mixture adapted to be caused to form a chemical combination by the presence of such agent; and means operated in controlled time relation with the motor for forcing said gaseous mixture into contact With said agent, whereby the latter is rendered incandescent at the explosion stage in the cycle of the motors action.

2. In an explosive-motor, an igniting means comprising a source of inflammable gaseous mixture; a passage leading from such source and discharging in the explosion-chamber of the motor; means for driving the inflammable gaseous mixture through such passage into the explosion-chamber, and a catalytic agent exposed in the path of the current thus produced in such passage.

3. In an explosivemotor,an igniting means comprising a source of inflammable gaseous mixture; a passage from such source and discharging in the explosion chamber of the motor; a catalytic agent located in the path of a current through such passage,adapted to cause the gaseous mixture to become indamed in its presence; and means operated in controlled time relation to the motors action for driving the gaseous mixture through the passage toward the explosion-chamber,whereby such gaseous mixture may oe discharged as ilame into the exploson-chamber at the ex plosion stage in the cycle of the motor-s action.

4. In an explosive-motor,an igniting means comprising a catalytic agent; a source of gaseous mixture adapted to be caused to form a chemical combination by the presence of such agent; means operated by the motor, for compressing snch mixture in the presence of the catalytic agent to a degree in excess of the compression of the motor-gases produced by the compressionstroke of the motor, and for driving such gaseous mixture thus compressed past the catalytic agent and discharging it in the explosion-chamber.

5. In an explosive-motor,an igniting means comprising a catalytic agent; a source of gaseous mixture adapted to be caused to form a chemicalcombination by the presence of such agent; means operated by the motor for compressing such mixture to a degree in excess of the compression produced in the motorgases bythe compression-stroke of the motorpiston, and for driving such mixture so compressed through the catalytic agenttduring a short portion of the pistons compressing stroke toward the culmination of such stroke, and discharging it, after passing such agent, Within the explosion-chamber.

6. In an explosive-motor, a catalytic agent located in the explosion-chamber and exposed to the motor-gases; a source of gaseous mixture adapted to excite the catalytic agent; means operated in controlled time relation with the motor for compressing such excitantgases and d ri ving them so compressed through the catalytic agent during the concluding portion of the pistons compression-stroke.

7. In an explosive-motor,an igniting means comprising a source of inflammable gaseous mixture; a passage leading from such source and discharging in the explosion-chamber of the motor; a catalytic agent, adapted to be excited by such mixture, and means operated by the motorior compressing such mixture to a degree in excess of the compression of the motor-gases produced by the motor-piston, and driving the same thus compressed through the passage past the catalytic agent, and causing it to be discharged in the explosion-chamber, said compressing and driving means being timed to operate for compression and discharge of the mixture during the concluding portion of the pistons compressing stroke.

8. In an explosive-motor, a catalytic agent located in positionto be exposed to the motor-gases in the explosion-chamber; a source of gaseous mixture adapted to excite such catalytic agent; means operated by the motor for compressing such excitant-gases to a degree in excess of the compression ofthe motor-gases produced in the piston-chamber; the mechanism for affecting such compression, being timed to commence the compressing action toward the end of the pistons compressing stroke; whereby the excitation of the catalytic element by said excitant-gases occurs toward the finish of said compressing stroke.

9. In an explosive-motor an igniting means comprising a source of inflammable gaseous mixture; a passage leading from'such source and discharging in the explosion-chamber of such motor; a catalytic agent adapted to be excited by such mixture and means operated by the motor for discharging such mixture through the catalytic agent inside of explosion-chamber at the stage of compression Vof the motor-gas in said chamber.

10. In an explosive-motora catalytic agent located in aposition to be exposed to the motor-gases in the explosion-chamber; asource of gaseous mixture calculated to excite such catalytic agent; means provided for discharging such excitant mixture through the catalytic agent at the rompression stage of the motor-gas into the explosion-chamber.

1l. In an explosive motor, an igniting means comprising a collateral piston-chamber having communication with the explo- IOO IIC

sion-chamber; a piston in such chamber, and means whereby tlie same is reciprocated in controlled time relation to the movements of the motor-piston; and a catalytic agent located in the path of a current through the communicating passage from the said collateral piston-chamber to the explosion-chamber of the motor adapted to cause a chemical combination between the elements of the explosive employed, and means for admitting such explosive to the collateral pistonchamber in advance of the piston, whereby such explosive is forced into the presence of the catalytic agent and discharged as flame in the explosion-chamber.

12. In an explosive-motor, in combination with the piston-chamber of the motor, a collateral piston-chamber having communication with the motor-piston chamber at a distance back from the explosion-chamber, and a passage communicating between said collateral chamber and the explosion-chamber; a catalytic agent located in the path of a current through said passage, and means for operating the piston in said collateral chamber in controlled time relation to the motor-piston to cause the gaseous mixture supplied to the motor for explosion to be drawn from the motor piston chamber into the collateral chamber, and to be compressed in the latter and discharged therefrom into the explosionchamber past the catalytic agent, whereby said gases may be ignited and discharged as flame in the explosion-chamber.

13, In an explosive motor, an igniting means comprising a pump device having an intake leading from the motor-piston chamber, and a discharge leading into the explosin-chamber; a catalytic agent located in the path of a current through the dischargepassage; and means foroperating such pump in controlled time relation to cause it to draw gases from the motor-piston chamber during the compressing movement of the motor-piston, and to discharge the same past the catalytic agent in-to the explosion-cham ber.

14. In an explosive motor, an igniting means comprising a pump device having an intakeleading from the piston-chamber of the motor, and a discharge leading into the explosion-chamber, a catalytic agent located in the path of acurrent through the discharge-passage, and means for operating such pump in controlled time relation to the motor-piston to cause it to draw` explosion-gases from the motor-piston chamber, and to compress the same and discharge them under compression past the catalytic agent into the explosionchamber at the 'explosion stage of the cycle of the motors action.

15. In an explosive-motor, in combination with the piston-chamber of the motor and the 'piston therein, the explosion-chamber at the limit of the pistons stroke; a pump-chamber collateral to the motor-piston chamber, and a discharge-passage therefrom into the explosion-chamber; a catalytic agent located in the path of a current through such dischargepassage; a source of supply for gases adapted to be acted upon by such catalytic agent, and a passage by which the same are admitted to the pump-chamber in advance of the piston; a cam operated in controlled time relation to the main shaft of the motor, and connections by which such cam withdraws the piston in the pu mp-chamber; and a spring tending to thrust said piston forward in its chamber; the cam being provided with an abrupt drop to permit the spring to operate on the piston to give it a quick inthrust, whereby the gases are forcibly discharged from the pump-chamber past the catalytic agent into the explosion-chamber.

16. In an explosive-motor, in combination with the .piston-chamber and the explosionchamber at the limit thereof, a pumping device having a discharge-passage from its chamberinto the explosion-chamber; a catalytic agent locatcd in the path of a current t-hrough such discharge-passage; a source of supply for a gaseous mixture, adapted to be acted upon by such catalytic agent; the piston of such pumping device, and a spring adapted to thrust it forward to cause discharge into the explosion-chamber; and devices operated in controlled time relation with the main shaft of the motor for withdrawing the piston, arranged to release it to permit the spring to act abruptly, whereby the gases admitted to the pump-chamber are forcibly discharged past the catalytic agent into the explosion-chamber.

17. In an explosive-motor, in combination with the explosion-chamber, a pump device having a discharge-passage leading into such chamber; a source of supply for a gaseous mixture, adapted to be acted upon by a catalytic agent; and a holder for such catalytic agent in the discharge-passage, arranged to be withdrawn and reinserted at will.

18. An explosive-motor,comprising,incom bination with the explosion-cham ber, a pump device discharging thereinto, and a catalytic agent located in the path of a current through the discharge-passage; a source of gaseous mixture adapted to be acted upon by such catalytic agent; the pump device having its intake connected to such source; a duct leading from the discharge-passage outwardly; and means for closing the same.

19. An explosive-motor,com prising,i n combination with the explosion-cham ber, a pump device discharging thereinto, and a catalytic agent located in the path of a current through such discharge-passage; a source of gaseous mixture adapted to be acted upon by such catalytic agent; the pump device having its intake connected to such source; a duct leading from the discharge-passage outwardly; and a check-valve in such discharge-passage seating outwardly'to close .the same against outward discharge.

20. In an explosive-motor,a catalytic agent; a source of gaseous excitant for the same; a

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passage` containing such excitant, leading from such source to the explosion-chamber of the motor; means operated by the motor to force such excitant through the passage into the explosion-chamber; and means for Varying at Will the time in the cycle of the motors action at which said forcing means operates.

21. In an explosive-motor, a source of gaseous excitant for a catalytic agent; a passage leading from such source to the explosionchamber of the motor; a catalytic agent located in the path of gaseous current through such passage; a pump-chamber constituting part of such passage; ashaft rotating in uniform time relation to the motor main shaft; a cam thereon and a pump-piston connected to and operated by such cam, and means for angularly adjusting the cam on its shaft at will.

22. In an explosive-motor, a source of gaseous excitant for a catalytic agent; a passage leading from such source to the explosionchannber of the motor; a catalytic agent 1ocated in the path of gaseous current through such passage, means for impelling such gases ous excitant through such passages comprising a shaft rotating in uniform time relation to the motor main shaft; a cam thereon and a pump having its piston connected to and operated by such cam; a tangent-screw mounted on the cam, and a segment-rack mounted on the shaft and engaged by the tangentscrew, whereby the cam may be angularly adjusted on the shaft.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at Kenosha, Wisconsin, in the presence of two witnesses, this lst day of March,

THOS. B. JEFFERY.

n presence of* L. B. SAWINSKY, V. RONDALL. 

